Levator syndrome is a common condition affecting many people in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. It is a painful but not life-threatening condition that nevertheless may have a significant impact on the quality of life of the symptomatic patient if left untreated. Therefore, if you are experiencing any symptoms of this condition, it would be extremely advisable to book an appointment with your local colorectal specialist. There are many colorectal surgeons in the Los Angeles area, who will be able to perform an examination and give you an accurate diagnosis.
How to Recognize the Symptoms of Levator Syndrome?
Levator syndrome has some characteristic symptoms that distinguish it from many other colorectal conditions. The primary symptom is muscle spasm, which usually originates from the pelvic floor muscles which involve the anal sphincter muscles. These muscle spasms will cause pain directly in this area, but may also radiate out to surrounding areas. The muscle spasms are rapid contractions of the muscles that are uncontrolled leading to pain in the rectal and anal areas.
The other recognizable symptom of levator syndrome is the dull, continuous ache that occurs in the same region of the body. The ache and muscle spasms do not necessarily occur at the same time, and some patients may only experience one of them. Others will experience both, or they may alternate at times. The symptoms of levator syndrome can vary, but pain will be the predominant sign that you are suffering from levator syndrome.
What can Relieve the Symptoms of Levator Syndrome?
What can Relieve the Symptoms of Levator Syndrome?
Muscle spasms develop when there is too much pressure on an area of the muscle, and it becomes tight and filled with tension. It then contracts sharply, which is usually associated with pain, sometimes severely so. There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the pressure on the levator ani muscle. These will need to be performed on a regular basis in order to have a significant effect on the symptoms.
- Don’t spend too long sitting still. Being seated for too long leads to pressure in the levator ani muscle, which will make spasms more likely to occur. Try to get up and move on a regular basis, which will help to relieve the pressure and reduce the pain that you are experiencing.
- If you do have a job that requires you to spend long periods of time seated, then make sure you are in a position that reduces the pressure as much as possible. Use cushions or padding to hold your lower back in a better position if you need to do this.
- Stand or sit up straighter, rather than slouching. Slouching is one of the main ways in which pressure is applied to the levator ani muscle, and it will make your symptoms much more severe.
Can the Muscle Spasms be Treated?
As you will discover when you book your appointment with a Los Angeles colorectal surgeon, there are ways in which the condition can be treated. For the majority of patients who are experiencing levator syndrome, the use of massage by ultrasound waves will relieve the symptoms of pain and muscle spasms. Other treatments are also available if your case is more severe and the standard treatment is not effective.
Muscle relaxant drugs are only recommended for the short term, temporary relief of pain, and will not be effective on a long term basis. This is because they do not eliminate the tension from the muscle, but instead simply mask the most severe effects and provide some pain relief.
Booking an Appointment for Further Advice
Booking an Appointment for Further Advice
Choosing a colorectal surgeon from the many within the Los Angeles area is your first step, and once you have done this, all you have to do is book your initial appointment. Seeing a specialist means that you can get a definitive diagnosis for your condition, along with information about the treatments that are available to you, and advice on any lifestyle changes that you may need to make. If your levator syndrome treatment is successful, then you will need to take steps to ensure that it does not recur again in the future.
